Former Bengals running back Rudi Johnson dies at 45 in suicide
Family says he battled mental health issues; Johnson left a lasting on-field legacy and off-field foundation work
Former Cincinnati Bengals running back Rudi Johnson died at age 45 after taking his own life shortly after midnight Tuesday, according to police who spoke to TMZ.
According to police who spoke to TMZ, Johnson had been struggling with mental health issues and possible effects of CTE that he could not overcome. The New York Post, citing police statements to TMZ, reported that Johnson’s condition had deteriorated in recent weeks as part of the context around his death.
Johnson was drafted by Cincinnati in the fourth round, No. 100 overall, in the 2001 NFL Draft. He spent seven of eight seasons with the Bengals, appearing in 81 games and starting 59. He posted three consecutive seasons with at least 1,300 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns from 2004 through 2006, earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2004 after rushing for 1,454 yards that year. The Bengals reached the playoffs in only one of his eight seasons with the franchise.
In 2008, Johnson finished his NFL career with the Detroit Lions, a team that went 0-16 that season. He appeared in 14 games for Detroit and totaled 237 rushing yards. Across his eight-year NFL career, Johnson amassed 5,979 rushing yards and 49 rushing touchdowns, plus 676 receiving yards and two receiving scores in 95 games.
Johnson grew up in Virginia and began his college career at Butler Community College in Kansas before transferring to Auburn. At Auburn, he rushed for 1,567 yards and 13 touchdowns as a junior, a season that ranked among the Tigers’ single-season leaders and trailed only Bo Jackson at the time. His stellar college output helped him earn SEC Player of the Year honors before entering the NFL.
Johnson’s off-field contributions included founding the Rudi Johnson Foundation in 2005, a program intended to support learning opportunities for children who might not otherwise have access. Family members told TMZ that in his final days he focused on helping others and supporting those around him. A mmhmf.org article about his mother, Janice, described his broader effort to share blessings with families and children who faced challenges.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis, you can call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org for free and confidential crisis counseling.
